BEDMINSTER, NJ — The traveling circus that is Saudi LIV Golf has arrived at the biggest of the big tops, owned by The Former Guy, Donald Trump. He’s supposed to show up Thursday to play in the pro-am, then lend his world-renowned reputation for credibility, honesty, class and dignity to try to make something out of nothing during three days of uncut, low-energy, mostly nameless, exhibition-style golf.
LIV Golf and Trump, paired together, a match made in, well, somewhere. What could go wrong?
Ask Paul Casey, the 45-year-old five-time European Ryder Cup veteran who came into Wednesday’s news conference with a solid reputation as a glib guy who never answered a question he didn’t like and left. like Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad. Bin Salman’s favorite new sports washing machine.
When LIV golfers meet with the press, they should already know what’s coming: questions about leaving their old jobs on the PGA Tour for new jobs taking millions from the MBS-controlled Saudi government’s Public Investment Fund, which sanctioned the 2018 murder and dismemberment of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, according to US human rights organizations and intelligence agencies.
They have also been asked about the fact that Osama bin Laden and 15 of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudis, which is more appropriate this week as Ground Zero is only an hour’s drive from Trump National Golf Course. club, and The families of 9/11 have been relentless in reminding us, rightly so, of the connection.
So far, the Phil Mickelsons and Dustin Johnsons of the world have failed to substantially answer any questions, and have instead backed off on how they are working to grow the game of golf and make the world a better place for golfers or others. important people.
Along those lines, I thought Casey might have an idea or two about using the platform he’s been given on the Saudi payroll to influence MBS and his cronies by speaking out to help Saudi women and the LGBTQ community.
“As you know, gay people are subject to capital punishment, and women’s rights obviously lag far behind men’s rights. …Would you talk about those topics right now?”
So Casey responded. She said she played golf with a 17-year-old girl in a pro-am at the Saudi Invitational earlier this year, and played with “another lady who is a human rights lawyer.” Casey said the 17-year-old told her things have “changed radically for her and her family” since she started playing golf in recent years.
Ah, the magic of golf. Hit a few golf balls and centuries of oppression evaporate, at least for a young woman. MBS couldn’t have said it better.
And what about LGBTQ rights?
“It’s not a topic I know enough to talk about,” Casey said.
Veteran Jason Kokrak, 37, was sitting next to Casey. “Yes, I agree with Paul. I don’t know enough about it to talk about it, but I also got to play with that girl, was she 15 or 17?
That was the joke, word for word, between two professional golfers, both world travelers, who have lived a combined 82 years and have no idea how to say anything even remotely meaningful about the plight of women and LGBTQ people. in Saudi Arabia.
After the press conference, Casey was surrounded by a group of reporters who had more questions for him. One came from NorthJersey.com, wondering about the 9/11 families’ criticism of LIV Golf.
OPINION: Charles Barkley’s flirtation with LIV Golf seems like a big troll
PLUS: 9/11 families mourn again for LIV Golf
PRO AM: Donald Trump to join Caitlyn Jenner, Charles Barkley for LIV Golf Bedminster pro-am
PLUS: LIV Golf League announces format for launch in 2023 with 12 team franchises
“My heart goes out to everyone who suffered a loss and was affected by 9/11,” Casey said. “I have no words to describe the pain and sadness behind it, I have to go do a photo shoot.”
Oh priorities. How convenient that Casey’s are now fully aligned with MBS’s. When he left the sad thought of 9/11 families in the middle of prayer and went to have his picture taken, his once-good name and reputation went out with him.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LIV golfers destroy their reputation to launder sports for MBS